New app helps Indiana residents keep track of sex offenders

There's a new way for Indiana residents to keep track of sex offenders.

Starting on Tuesday, people living in Indiana can use the smartphone app, Alert ID, to stay aware of nearby sex offenders.

Families who sign up will get an alert any time a sex offender moves into their neighborhood or near their child's school. They'll also be able to look at a map showing where all local sex offenders live and work.

Right now in Vanderburgh County, residents do have the option to sign up for a sex offender watch. Those signed up will get an alert through email anytime a sex offender moves into the area.

Sheriff Eric Williams says the new alert ID service if timely and accurate will be beneficial for Tri-State families, but he says it's important to remember there could be some offenders not on the registry.

"I use the ideal that this is another tool. It's not the end all. Just like our registry and our website and all those others, they're just tools. They're tools for parents and communities to make decisions about what they do, where they go, who they let their kids hang out with. Those kinds of things, but you can't get a false sense of security," Sheriff Williams said.